February 2, 2004

Lebanon Bans Chicken Imports From 12 Asian Nations Over Bird Flu

Lebanon has banned all imports of birds and related products from 12 Asian countries, following the outbreak of bird flu, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday.

Lebanon is the fifth Arab country after Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria to ban imports of Asian birds after the disease led to the deaths of 10 people.

The latest measure came as new infections were reported in China and the World Health Organization advised countries to consider stockpiling antiviral drugs in case the virus mutates and becomes equally contagious for humans.

The Lebanese ban covers all kinds of birds and products from South Korea, Vietnam, China, Japan, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh, said a statement published in the As-Safir newspaper.

The bird flu, or avian influenza, is generally transmitted from wild birds to domestic farm animals where it can wipe out entire flocks. Wild birds are often carriers, but don't always become sick.

In some rare cases bird flu is passed on to humans and is sometimes fatal, mainly for young children and the elderly.